Video: Secaucus town house blaze leaves one dead, two injured

SECAUCUS — One person was killed Sunday evening in a blaze that gutted two stories of a four-unit town house building, authorities said. Two firefighters were injured.

When firefighters arrived, flames were blasting out of a second-floor window at 201 Sandcastle Key, part of the Harmon Cove town house complex, Secaucus Fire Chief George Schoenrock said. The fire, he said, spread through the third floor onto the roof. The three residential stories are above a parking garage.

Firefighters found a body on the ground, the chief said. “The body was so badly burned, you couldn’t tell if it was a man or a woman,” Schoenrock said. A resident who wouldn’t give her name said the victim is a woman. The resident also said there are 96 four-unit buildings in the complex.

Firefighters said they were told that the person had been seen earlier hanging out of a second-floor window about 18 feet above the ground.

Schoenrock said it took an hour to control the fire. He said firefighters conducted several searches inside the building after the fire was knocked down, but found no one. He said the blaze was contained to the one building, although other buildings are close by.

Two Secaucus firefighters were injured when they were struck by a nozzle. One was taken to nearby Meadowlands Hospital and the other was treated at the scene.

Schoenrock said 125 firefighters from Hudson and Bergen counties responded.

Twice while battling the stubborn blaze, firefighters were called out of the building because of concerns that it might collapse.

Late Sunday night, firefighters were still extinguishing hot spots. The chief said one engine company would remain overnight.

Residents, many of them from their balconies, watched the firefighters battle the blaze. One bystander was heard to say, “We need more fire hydrants.”

Video: Secaucus town house blaze leaves one dead, two injured

SECAUCUS — One person was killed Sunday evening in a blaze that gutted two stories of a four-unit town house building, authorities said. Two firefighters were injured.

When firefighters arrived, flames were blasting out of a second-floor window at 201 Sandcastle Key, part of the Harmon Cove town house complex, Secaucus Fire Chief George Schoenrock said. The fire, he said, spread through the third floor onto the roof. The three residential stories are above a parking garage.

Firefighters found a body on the ground, the chief said. “The body was so badly burned, you couldn’t tell if it was a man or a woman,” Schoenrock said. A resident who wouldn’t give her name said the victim is a woman. The resident also said there are 96 four-unit buildings in the complex.

Firefighters said they were told that the person had been seen earlier hanging out of a second-floor window about 18 feet above the ground.

Schoenrock said it took an hour to control the fire. He said firefighters conducted several searches inside the building after the fire was knocked down, but found no one. He said the blaze was contained to the one building, although other buildings are close by.

Two Secaucus firefighters were injured when they were struck by a nozzle. One was taken to nearby Meadowlands Hospital and the other was treated at the scene.

Schoenrock said 125 firefighters from Hudson and Bergen counties responded.

Twice while battling the stubborn blaze, firefighters were called out of the building because of concerns that it might collapse.

Late Sunday night, firefighters were still extinguishing hot spots. The chief said one engine company would remain overnight.

Residents, many of them from their balconies, watched the firefighters battle the blaze. One bystander was heard to say, “We need more fire hydrants.”